February 1, 2024

• Over 500 journalists were laid off in January 2024 alone: Challenger, Gray & Christmas report (POLITICO) / Readers share the state of their local journalism (The Atlantic) 

• The Messenger eyed merger with L.A. Times before demise (The Wrap) / The Messenger didn't tell staff for before shutting down (Daily Beast) / ‘It's been one hell of a ride…I couldn't be prouder of my colleagues and all the hard work we've done.’ (Darren Samuelsohn) 

• James Graff, WSJ's justice and judiciary editor, among the layoffs (Talking Biz News) / ‘I was also the only Black reporter left in the DC bureau. Maybe an upside will be landing somewhere that isn't so lonely’ (Amara Omeokwe)

• Tribune Publishing journalists go on 24-hour strike (The NewsGuild) / The Onion Union avoids strike, reaches tentative agreement with G/O Media (Deadline)

• The ‘mainstreaming’ of ‘hateful and dehumanizing rhetoric’ in right-wing media is leading to violence, experts say (CNN) 

• 300 local TV news stations are teaming up to launch a streaming service to capture shifting audiences and ad dollars (Business Insider) 

• Merger of Mother Jones, The Center for Investigative Reporting is official (The Center for Investigative Reporting)

• Sports Illustrated publisher pulls transgender boxing story from magazine (Washington Post) 

• CBS correspondent says he faced recent discrimination at Louisiana high school while covering a story (The Guardian)

• Journal Sentinel to end commenting on stories, seek new ways to connect with and serve readers (Journal Sentinel) 

• The Ankler-LAist partnering on entertainment news for SoCal's largest public radio station (The Ankler)

• Maria L. La Ganga promoted to deputy managing editor for California and Metro (Los Angeles Times) / Chicago's City Bureau appoints Morgan Malone executive director (City Bureau via Editor and Publisher) / Charlie Sykes says he is getting ‘off the daily hamster wheel of crazy’ and leaving the Bulwark (The Bulwark) 

• YouTube and Facebook are by far the most used online platforms among U.S. adults; TikTok’s user base has grown since 2021, study (Pew Research Center)

• How a Texas State University student journalist’s reporting made a seismic impact nationally (KSAT) 

Press Freedom 

• Russian court extends detention of U.S. journalist Alsu Kurmasheva (Reuters) / ‘We call on the State Department to take action today to support Alsu by formally acknowledging she is wrongfully detained.’ (NPC/JI)

• Judge rules for local news site TAPinto Newark in New Jersey Open Public Records Act case (TAPinto Newark) 

• US News & World Report fights subpoenas from San Francisco city attorney demanding answers on how publication ranks hospitals (Fox News)

Career Day at the National Press Club, coming March 22

To help connect employers to journalists and communication professionals looking for new opportunities, the National Press Club and its nonprofit affiliate the NPC Journalism Institute will host a Career Day on Friday, March 22. 

Participants can meet recruiters and exhibitors, get job search training and free professional headshots, and more during the 2024 Career Day at the National Press Club, to be held in-person from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024.

Whether you make a day of it or spend only an hour, get your ticket to grow your network and explore your career options. Tickets are on sale now:



• $25 for the general public
• $10 for National Press Club members

Participants will meet dozens of recruiters from some of the top newsrooms and PR/communication firms in the Mid-Atlantic in the bustling exhibitor hall, which will be open all day. Recruiters will also include fellowship and academic opportunities for those exploring different career paths.

Between handshakes, attendees can refresh their professional image in our pop-up headshot studio, with photo sessions available free to ticketholders on a first-come, first-served basis. The Journalism Institute has four professional development programs planned for ticketholders.

Click here to view the full schedule.

Job search: Resume tips, interview strategies, and where to look

Layoffs are a difficult reality in an industry facing economic uncertainty. As more newsrooms continue to make reductions, journalists around the country are feeling the pressure. 

The National Press Club Journalism Institute is here to support you. Whether you are recently out of work, worried about your current job, or considering a new career path, here are tips to get started with your job search. 

3 places to look for a journalism/media job now: 

• The National Press Club job board
• Journalismjobs.com
• Inside the Newsroom and MediaBistro

3 tips to update your resume:

• “One size does NOT fit all when it comes to resumes,” said Rhema Thompson Bland, deputy director of news talent acquisition & development at McClatchy, on LinkedIn. “Try this: Update your resume to match the job description.”

• Avoid buzzwords like “Team Player,” “People Person,” “Good Communicator,” “Hard Worker,” or “Fast Learner,” said Shannon Donnelly on JournalismJobs.com.

• Check out JobHero: Media & Journalism for resume examples and templates. You can also find great advice on the Resources for Journalists website.

3 tips to nail your job interview:

• Bring questions. “If you’ve done your basic research on the company, you should have at least three questions, such as: Will my role expand beyond this job description? or Will there be opportunities for me to work collaboratively?” said writer Tim Sohn on JournalismJobs.com. “Asking questions shows the employer you’re really interested and thinking long-term.”

• Have anecdotes of teamwork, leadership, or mediation in hand — particularly those in challenging or high-pressured situations. It shows you collaborate and work well with a team, said Daniel McLaughlin, a podcast editor with the Manchester Evening News and the Liverpool Echo.

• “When asked to share your personal strengths and weaknesses, share a strength that matches criteria listed in the job description,” said Joel Schwartzberg, professional presentation coach and author, in Harvard Business Review. “For a weakness, reimagine the word as challenge. Replace the word weakness with the word challenge in your answer.”

Looking for more career advice? Watch highlights from our Career Connection workshop.

National Press Club News

• Watch: 'Captain America' star discusses civics education nonprofit at Headliners Luncheon
• Watch: Journalists discuss new funding models that support innovative efforts to reduce news deserts
• Interested in becoming an NPC member? Learn more. / Podcast: Didier Saugy discusses his approach as new NPC executive director

• Informational session on applying for a National Science-Health-Environment Reporting Fellowship (Feb. 7, 1 pm ET)
• Incorporating the voices of disabled people into the digital product design process (Feb. 13, 2 pm ET) 
• 5 tips to build local partnerships that give back to your community (Better News)

This newsletter is written & edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Bara Vaida, and Holly Butcher Grant. Send us your questions and suggestions for topics to cover.

Get this from a friend? Subscribe, and view the archives.